If you’ve ever driven through Medina and spotted a cyclist with a dog riding happily in a backpack, you’ve probably seen Dan Rosentreter. When he’s not out enjoying the open road with his four legged sidekick, Dan’s busy building a different kind of trail — one made of bird boxes and filled with life.

Dan is the heart behind AviNest, a hands on conservation project now part of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County, where he serves as the program lead. What started as a simple backyard project has grown into a community effort to protect native birds and restore local habitats.

It began with one nest box. Then another. And another. Now, Dan keeps up a network of 47 nesting boxes around Medina’s parks and cemeteries, offering safe homes for bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens.

With support from CCE Orleans, AviNest is expanding its reach with a new Bluebird Trail at the Orleans County Fairgrounds. It’s a space where families, 4-H youth, and anyone curious about nature can get involved and learn more about conservation. Upcoming workshops will cover everything from bird banding and nest box clean outs to invasive species management and wildlife photography.

“What began as a personal hobby with birds has grown into something much bigger,” Dan says. “Now it’s about building community, supporting local wildlife, and making a real impact.”

Dan also serves as a director for the New York State Bluebird Society and is an incredible wildlife photographer. His photos capture the beauty of local species right here in Western New York — the same ones he works so hard to protect.

For Dan, it all ties together: the peace of an early morning ride, the trust of a little dog tucked safely in his backpack, and the satisfaction of watching a bluebird return to a nest box he built. It’s a simple reminder of how connected we all are to the world around us.

Dan’s passion for wildlife and his partnership with CCE Orleans remind us that caring for nature starts right in our own backyard.